Spring assisted articulating window armor system

ABSTRACT

In the spring assisted articulating window armor system invention, lightweight opaque armor is stored in the down position when not needed. When the armor is needed, a locking pin is released and two air cylinders or gas springs move the armor into the protected position. Then the upper half is hinged to the lower half and the upper armor is raised into position and the locking pin is reinstalled to hold the armor in position. The system in the down position allows for a complete unobstructed viewing area. In the semi-deployed or partial up position, the system provides partial ballistic coverage for the occupant, and still allows for some occupant vision capability. In the fully deployed, or full up position, the system provides full ballistic coverage for the occupant.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to the field of window armor andmore particularly to a relatively lightweight window armor solution thatis especially useful for vehicles and boats. Moreover, the presentinvention pertains to a window armor that still permits full use of theexisting standard production glass window when no threat is present.

2. Background Art

Ballistic-resistant transparent glass is inherently heavier than opaquearmor for the same threat level. Thus, the traditional method forproviding protection for threats on windows, which requires ballisticglass, can be quite thick and heavy due to the amount of glass needed tostop the threat. In most installations, the production glass is removedand replaced with ballistic glass. Most ballistic glass systems arestationary and can't be opened. Alternatively, they may be provided withmotors and special support structure to enable moving the glass up anddown or back and forth to open and close the windows. Thus, in additionto the added weight of the ballistic glass, in order to enable one toopen a window, there is still more weight for extra motors and specialsupport structure. Such significant added weight is especiallydisadvantageous on a boat where the added weight may affect speed andbalance.

Thus, there is a need to find a way to protect window areas fromballistic threats, which does not unduly add weight and/or make thewindows un-openable, especially for boats, which may be readily affectedby added weight.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention solves the aforementioned need by protectingwindows with opaque armor plates that are nominally positioned to allowuse of the original standard glass, plexiglass or other transparentwindows.

The spring assisted articulating window armor system is a system whichis mounted to the inside of a vehicle or boat leaving the originaltransparent glass in place and intact.

In the spring assisted articulating window armor system invention,lightweight opaque armor is stored in the down position when not needed.When the armor is needed, a locking pin is released and two aircylinders or gas springs move the armor into the protected position.Then the upper half is hinged to the lower half and the upper armor israised into position and the locking pin is reinstalled to hold thearmor in position.

The system in the down position allows for a complete unobstructedviewing area. In the semi-deployed or partial up position, the systemprovides partial ballistic coverage for the occupant, and still allowsfor some occupant vision capability. In the fully deployed, or full upposition, the system provides full ballistic coverage for the occupant.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The aforementioned objects and advantages of the present invention, aswell as additional objects and advantages thereof, will be more fullyunderstood herein after as a result of a detailed description of apreferred embodiment when taken in conjunction with the followingdrawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a three-dimensional view of a spring assisted articulatingwindow armor assembly shown in its fully open position at the lower endof a conventional glass window; and

FIG. 2 is a three-dimensional view of the window armor assembly of FIG.1, but shown in a partially closed position where it has been elevatedinto position by gas springs and is ready for being fully closed formaximum threat protection.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the accompanying drawings and initially to FIG. 1, it willbe seen that a spring assisted articulating window assembly 10 is showntherein in its fully open position. The preferred embodiment depicted inthe accompanying figures comprises a lower window opaque armor panel 11and an upper window opaque armor panel 12. Lower panel 11 is securedwithin four brackets 13 (two on each opposing side edge) which are, inturn, secured to a pair of opposing slide assemblies 14, which are, inturn, mounting to the wall of the vehicle or boat adjacent the existingwindow 24, by four mounting blocks 15, (two on each opposite side of thewindow).

Lower panel 11 and upper panel 12 are hingedly interconnected by a pairof hinges 16. A latch 18 is affixed to the lower edge of upper panel 12where it is held by a first retainer 17. A securing strap 19 may also beused to interconnect the lower edges of both panels 11 and 12.

The panels 11 and 12 may be translated from the lower stowed positionshown in FIG. 1 to the upper deployment position shown in FIG. 2 withthe assistance of a pair of gas springs 23. The gas springs areconnected at their lower ends to respective brackets 21 at ball studs 22and at their upper ends to brackets 20 which are secured to the lowerpanel 11. After the gas springs 23 are fully extended, the lower panel11 is translated into the position shown in FIG. 2 along the lower halfof window 24 and the upper panel 12 is in position to be hingedlyrotated into juxtaposition with the upper half of window 24. This isdone after releasing securing strap 19 and latch 18 from the lower latchretainer 17 and then re-latching latch 18 to upper retainer 17.

Once the upper panel 12 is in its fully closed position as shown by thedotted line in the upper left hand corner of FIG. 2, the window 24 iscompletely secure by being completely covered by a layer of opaqueballistic armor (panels 11 and 12) which is at least as protective as anequivalent, but much thicker and heaver layer, of ballistic glass. Afterthe threat is abated, the upper panel 12 may be released from the upperlatch retainer 17 and rotated around hinges 16. The gas springs 23 maythen be released thereby allowing the upper and lower panels to belowered along slide assemblies 14 to the stowed position shown inFIG. 1. In this position, window 24 is again almost fully uncovered,passing light into the boat or vehicle interior and fully accessible tobe opened to allow air to enter as well.

It will now be apparent that what has been disclosed herein comprises anovel window armor assembly which provides significant protectionagainst ballistic threats, but with substantially reduced weight andwhile allowing complete access to the existing original equipmentstandard window when the armor is in a stowed or standby condition. Thepreferred embodiment employs gas springs and slide assemblies to assistin lifting two hinged opaque armor panels from the stowed position belowthe standard window glass into a deployable position adjacent theexisting window glass for rotation of an upper panel to close the armorpanels into a fully protecting configuration. Those having skill in thewindow armor art, will now perceive various modifications and additionswhich may be made to the illustrated embodiment. Accordingly, the scopehereof is to be limited only by the appended claims and theirequivalents.

1. A ballistic armor assembly for use with openable planar windows ofvehicles and boats, the assembly comprising: at least one opaque armorpanel positioned in permanent parallel juxtaposition to said window on apair of slide assemblies mounted on a wall surface on opposing sides ofsaid window inside said vehicle or boat for linear translation thereonfrom a first lower position not obstructing said window to a secondupper position at least partially obstructing said window.
 2. Theballistic armor assembly recited in claim 1 comprising two said opaquearmor panels attached to one another along a common edge in hingedoverlapped relation by at least one hinge whereby one such panel may beselectively rotated into coplanar contiguous relation with the othersuch panel.
 3. The ballistic armor assembly recited in claim 1 furthercomprising at least one spring-based device connected at a first end tosaid at least one armor panel and connected at a second end to said wallsurface for assisting the translation of said at least one armor panelfrom said first position to said second position.
 4. The ballistic armorassembly recited in claim 2 further comprising a pair of spring-baseddevices positioned on opposed side edges of one of said two armor panelsand each being connected at a first end to said one of said two panelsand each being connected at a second end to said wall surface forassisting the translation of said hinged panels from said first positionto said second position.
 5. The ballistic armor assembly recited inclaim 3 wherein said spring-based device comprises a gas spring.
 6. Theballistic armor assembly recited in claim 4 wherein each of saidspring-based devices comprises a gas spring.
 7. The ballistic armorassembly recited in claim 2 further comprising a latch affixed to anedge of said rotated panel for attachment of said rotated panel to afirst latch retainer affixed to said wall surface above said window toretain said rotated panel in an elevated position.
 8. The ballisticarmor assembly recited in claim 7 further comprising a second latchretainer affixed to said wall surface below said window to retain saidtwo panels in overlapped rotation.